DIAL 911 IMMEDIATELY if you or someone you are with are in medical distress

“The Kristin L. Jackson & John M. Perkins Jr. Law”

Delaware’s 911 Good Samaritan Law

In 2013 Governor Jack Markell signed Senate Bill 116 into law. The law had been passed unanimously by both houses of the General Assembly.

The law grants immunity from arrest, charge, and prosecution to a person who makes a call to 911 to report someone who is in medical distress. The legal immunity applies to both the caller and the individual who needs medical attention. It also applies to underage drinking. The purpose of the law is for the caller to remain with the person in distress under medical help arrives. The caller then may be able to provide information about what may have caused the distress. You should tell the 911 operator, “I’m with someone who is not breathing and unresponsive” and then wait for medical help to arrive.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse states that 80% of those who use injection drugs are with someone when they use. Yet most victims of overdose are found alone.

There are some exceptions to legal immunity in the instance of homicide, rape, kidnap and major felonies (large amounts of illegal drugs, guns).